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Posted on 11/14/2004 1:12:28 AM PST by beyond the sea
Eric Clapton has astounded the music world by finally agreeing to reform Cream, rock's first supergroup, 36 years after they split up at the height of their worldwide fame.
Back then Clapton was declared a "guitar God", Ginger Baker was the epitome of the wild-eyed rock drummer and Jack Bruce was the pioneer of a raw, biting tone for the electric bass.
Over two years they sold more than 35 million records, producing a new form of "heavy" music that fused hard rock, blues and jazz. But they were unable to survive their ego-powered celebrity.
There was such venom at the end that, years later, Clapton said the thought of a reunion "scares the living daylights out of me".
John Mayall, the veteran leader of the Bluesbreakers, the British band from which Clapton defected to create Cream in 1966, said yesterday: "I'm amazed. But Eric is always doing something unexpected. He moves in so many directions, always out front with his music."
Sources close to the musicians said that reunion plans were under way, with Clapton, 59, Bruce, 61, and Baker, 65, talking of "probably two gigs, or maybe more" at the Royal Albert Hall in May, although that venue, where Clapton staged his traditional blues stint this spring, has yet to be booked.
The hall was where Cream last performed in Britain in November 1968 after shows in America that were earning the trio $60,000 a night.
Cream have played together only once since, with searing versions of White Room, Crossroads and Sunshine of Your Love, at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles in 1993.
Rehearsals for the reunion, with new material, are expected to begin early in the new year.
Mayall, visiting London from his home in Los Angeles, said: "I can't imagine Cream's reappearance will be a marathon again, as Eric is now very much a family man.
"It's probably Eric on one of his nostalgia trips, as Jack and Ginger are not exactly headline names of this generation. It's likely to be for a charity, or the music, not the money."
Ya think any of them have arthritis by now?
OK, it's official. I AM OLD.
Ginger Baker 65? I always thought he was 20 forever? :-)
Actual title of article - Clapton plans Cream's rise to the top again.
It's way After Midnight here, it's Too Late so I'm going to my White Room to get some sleep.
Since they're in their 60's they just may......... they could use Terraaaaaaaaaaaayza's miracle arthritis cure............. gin-laden white raisins.
Black curtains?
You're right, but since I really don't think that Clapton's intent or belief was that Cream was going to "rise to the top again", I changed it. Oh well.
I sure wouldn't mind seeing them again........we're all about the same age.
LOL! That wood be fitting.
Hell they're all clean now right. Why not, too bad Mozart died so young, he'd a bein jammin til his rockinchair days, always C. Berry's goal, or as Keith says, "Its the music man, thats all that matters".
ASPERCREAM.
There is nothing sadder than an aging rocker.
Rock and Roll PING! email Weegee to get on/off this list (or grab it yourself to PING the rest)
Jack Bruce! :)
It'll be interesting. I just hope they don't go on one of those endless 'farewell' tours that have become so popular.
Oh good. Hope they release a Cd of this. We all need more 20+
minute songs that they used to fill their LP's with. Swabr
anyone?
Guess their Soc. Sec. isn't enought to live on....
On the other hand, concerts starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. permit us seniors to get to bed at a decent hour.......
George Carlin said it best: "From cocaine to Rogaine".
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